Harvest interval affects lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) taproot total yield,starch, nitrogen and water-soluble carbohydrates

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) has a large taproot to store and release starch, carbohydrates and nutrients during the plant's growth. Recommended management of the lucerne crop aims to keep the taproot stable subject to the demands for feed provision and stand longevity. Field experiments were conducted in Victoria, Australia, to examine the effects of recovery period on taproot mass and nutritive status. Both experiments used established SARDI Seven lucerne crops and were either cut every 21 days (short recovery SR) or every 42 days (long recovery LR). At each defoliation, taproots were extracted for determination of DM yield and starch, water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and nitrogen (N) concentration and DM yield. At both sites, WSC and N DM yields along with total taproot DM yield did not change greatly as the experiment progressed. Starch was responsive to herbage accumulation with both concentration and DM yield, increasing when herbage accumulation rates were high and decreasing when herbage accumulation rates were low. At both sites, LR taproots had starch levels equal to or higher than those of SR taproots. We conclude that short intervals between defoliations disrupt the energy cycling between shoots and roots. This is likely to reduce lucerne productivity, particularly during periods of rapid growth.     

Economic Analysis of Composting Crab Processing Waste

A study of composting crab processing waste (CPW) was performed to identify a cost-effective alternative to landfilling. If CPW could be economically recycled into a useful value-added product, the waste would not have to go to landfills, and could be sold commercially to the landscaping and nursery industries. Economic models of three systems were constructed and analyses performed using a variety of investment and operating costs. To ensure robust model analysis, several factors of the cost components were varied. The equivalent-uniform-annual-costs were used to compare the alternatives, Ag-Bag, windrowing, and landfilling the waste. Profit analysis was also performed for each of the proposed systems. The average annual cost for the processes of Ag-Bag 1, Ag-Bag 2, and windrowing was $62,903, $73,796, and $53,533 respectively. While none of the methods analyzed were profitable, windrowing results in the smallest loss of $?0.066/kg ($?63.08/ton) for all economic models considered, followed by Ag-Bag 1 with an average loss of $?0.107/kg ($?100.18/ton) and Ag-Bag 2 with an average loss of $?0.117/kg ($?109.80/ton). Although having the least loss, windrowing has drawbacks such as offensive odors. A sensitivity analysis to determine how much additional throughput would have to be utilized to create a profit was performed. This analysis found that the windrow system is the only system capable of ever garnering a profit, with a total throughput exceeding 1,003 tons/year. Under current market conditions, composting CPW by one of the systems described herein is not feasible.     

Genetic influences on reproductive system development and function: A review

This paper presents a current view of the genomic and neuroendocrine interaction based on our studies of the reproductive system in the platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). It also presents observations from basic research and applied biologists on natural and artificially reared fishes and indicates that there is a direct genetic involvement in the control of spawning, growth rates, size and age at maturation and final body size, similar to that described in platyfish. The past, present and future association of aquaculture and basic science, especially DNA technology, is discussed and potential directions for future research are presented.     

Relaxation of isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes by a voltage-dependent process

Cell contraction and relaxation were measured in single voltage-clamped guinea pig cardiomyocytes to investigate the contribution of sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchange to mechanical relaxation. Cells clamped from -80 to 0 millivolts displayed initial phasic and subsequent tonic contractions; caffeine reduced or abolished the phasic and enlarged the tonic contraction. The rate of relaxation from tonic contractions was steeply voltage-dependent and was significantly slowed in the absence of a sarcolemmal Na+ gradient. Tonic contractions elicited in the absence of a Na+ gradient promptly relaxed when external Na+ was applied, reflecting activation of Na+-Ca2+ exchange. It appears that a voltage-dependent Na+-Ca2+ exchange can rapidly mechanically relax mammalian heart muscle.     

Terrestrial activity and conservation of adult California red-legged frogs Rana aurora draytonii in coastal forests and grasslands

The federally threatened California red-legged frog Rana aurora draytonii occupies both aquatic and terrestrial habitats in its adult life stage. The terrestrial activities of this species are not well known and require documentation to assist in the development of appropriate levels of protection under the US Endangered Species Act. We studied the terrestrial activities of radio-tagged red-legged frogs (n=8-26) inhabiting a coastal watershed in Santa Cruz County, California, during 1997-1998. In particular, we investigated (1) the use of terrestrial habitats by non-migrating adults in relation to season, breeding chronology, and precipitation, and (2) adult migration behavior, including seasonal timing, duration, distances traveled, and the use of corridors. Non-migrating red-legged frogs occupied terrestrial habitats briefly (median=4-6 days) following infrequent summer rains, but resided nearly continuously on land (median=20-30 days) from the onset of the winter wet-season until breeding activities commenced 1-2 months later. All of the non-migrating frogs remained within 130 m of their aquatic site of residence (median <25 m). Intervals spent on land were again brief during mid/late winter (median=1-4 days), despite frequent and copious rainfall. Adult migration to and from breeding sites occurred from late October through mid-May (wet season). We monitored 25 migration events between aquatic sites that were 200-2800 m apart. Short distance movements (<300 m) were completed in 1-3 days, longer movements required up to 2 months. Most migrating frogs moved overland in approximately straight lines to target sites without apparent regard to vegetation type or topography. Riparian corridors were neither essential nor preferred as migration routes. Frogs traveling overland occurred in upland habitats as far as 500 m from water. Approximately 11-22% of the adult population was estimated to migrate to and from breeding sites annually, whereas the bulk of the adult population was resident at these sites. Adequate protection of red-legged frog populations inhabiting relatively undeveloped landscapes is liable to be achieved by retaining an array of suitable habitat elements within at least 100 m of occupied aquatic sites, and by imposing seasonal limitations on detrimental human activities occurring within this zone. Specific protections for migrating frogs are probably unwarranted in forest and rangeland environments because dispersal habitat is ubiquitous and migrating frogs are widely distributed across the landscape in space and time.     

Empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain

Our ability to have an experience of another's pain is characteristic of empathy. Using functional imaging, we assessed brain activity while volunteers experienced a painful stimulus and compared it to that elicited when they observed a signal indicating that their loved one--present in the same room--was receiving a similar pain stimulus. Bilateral anterior insula (AI), rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), brainstem, and cerebellum were activated when subjects received pain and also by a signal that a loved one experienced pain. AI and ACC activation correlated with individual empathy scores. Activity in the posterior insula/secondary somatosensory cortex, the sensorimotor cortex (SI/MI), and the caudal ACC was specific to receiving pain. Thus, a neural response in AI and rostral ACC, activated in common for "self" and "other" conditions, suggests that the neural substrate for empathic experience does not involve the entire "pain matrix." We conclude that only that part of the pain network associated with its affective qualities, but not its sensory qualities, mediates empathy.